Tracked cycle

Abstract

A tracked cycle including a frame assembly defining a front end and a rear end is provided for receiving a drive assembly mounted to the frame assembly. The drive assembly includes a drive gear assembly mounted to the frame assembly, a first idler wheel mounted to the rear end of the frame assembly distant from the drive assembly, and a second idler wheel intermediate the drive gear assembly and the first idler wheel and pivotally interconnected to the frame assembly to a shock absorber assembly depending from the frame assembly. A continuous track is provided extending around the drive gear assembly and the first and second idler wheels to generally define a triangle such that one side of the triangle defined by the continuous track extending between the first and second idler wheels is in contact with the ground, and a second side of the triangle defined by a portion of the continuous track extending between the drive gear assembly and the second idler wheel is inclined toward the front end of the frame assembly. The tracked cycle also includes a steering post extending to a tube attached to the front end of the frame assembly, a handle bar assembly attached to the upper end of the steering post, and a ski assembly attached to the lower end of the steering post such that movement of the handle bar assembly moves the ski assembly about a longitudinal axis of the steering post. The tracked cycle is also provided with a manual drive system attached to the drive gear assembly. In the alternative, the manual drive may be replaced with an internal combustion engine coupled to the drive gear assembly in a conventional manner.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tracked cycle, comprising in combination: a frame assembly defining a front end and a rear end;   a drive assembly mounted to said frame assembly, said drive assembly including a drive gear assembly mounted to said frame assembly, and a continuous track extending around said drive gear assembly;   a steering post extending through a tube attached to said front end of said frame assembly;   a handle bar assembly attached to an upper end of said steering post;   a ski assembly attached to a lower end of said steering post such that movement of the handle bar assembly moves the ski assembly about a longitudinal axis of said steering post; and   a means attached to said frame assembly for driving said drive gear assembly and moving said continuous track;   the drive gear assembly including a hub having an internal cavity defined therein and a brake assembly disposed within said internal cavity wherein said brake assembly includes a plurality of arcuate brake segments defining a ring about an inner wall of said hub and having tapered side walls, each of said arcuate brake segments having an outer wall for engaging said inner wall of said hub and an inner wall interconnected to said outer wall by a pair of tapered sidewalls, and a member disposed within said internal cavity having a frusto-conical end engaging said tapered sidewalls of each of said arcuate brake segments, and a cylindrical member from said hub and a ratchet assembly mounted to said cylindrical member extending from said hub for reversing a direction of rotation of said hub upon a reversal of said means attached to said frame assembly for driving said drive gear assembly and moving said track.   
     
     
       2. The tracked cycle as defined in claim 1, wherein said means attached to said frame assembly for driving said drive gear assembly and moving said track includes: a crank shaft pivotally attached to a lower end of said frame assembly;   a first sprocket attached to said crank shaft;   a second sprocket attached to said drive gear assembly;   a drive chain extending between said first and second sprockets; and   pedals and crank arms attached to said crank shaft.   
     
     
       3. The tracked cycle as defined in claim 1, wherein said ski assembly attached to said lower end of said steering post includes: a ski having a tip and a tail;   a pivotal coupling interconnecting said ski to said lower end of said steering post; and   a biasing member for elevating said tip with respect to said tail when said ski is not in contact with the ground.   
     
     
       4. A tracked cycle, comprising in combination: a frame assembly defining a front end and a rear end;   a drive assembly mounted to said frame assembly, said drive assembly including a drive gear assembly mounted to said frame assembly, a first wheel mounted to said rear end of said frame assembly distant from said drive gear assembly, and a second wheel intermediate said drive gear assembly and said first wheel pivotally interconnected to said frame assembly by a shock absorber assembly depending from said frame assembly, and a continuous track extending around said drive gear assembly and said first and second wheels to generally define a triangle such that one side of the triangle defined by said continuous track extending between said first and second wheels is in contact with the ground, and another side of the triangle defined by a portion of the continuous track extending between said drive gear assembly and said second wheel is inclined toward said front end of said frame assembly;   a steering post extending through a tube attached to said front end of said frame assembly;   a handle bar assembly attached to an upper end of said steering post;   a ski assembly attached to a lower end of said steering post such that movement of the handle bar assembly moves the ski assembly about a longitudinal axis of said steering post; and   a means attached to said frame assembly for driving said drive gear assembly and moving said continuous track;   the drive gear assembly including a hub having an internal cavity defined therein and a brake assembly disposed within said internal cavity wherein said brake assembly includes a plurality of arcuate brake segments defining a ring about an inner wall of said hub, each of said arcuate brake segments having an outer wall for engaging said inner wall of said hub and an inner wall interconnected to said outer wall by a pair of tapered sidewalls, and a member disposed within said internal cavity adjacent said plurality of arcuate brake segments having a frusto-conical end engaging one of said tapered sidewalls of each of said arcuate brake segments, and a cylindrical member having a portion extending outwardly said hub and having a ratchet assembly mounted to said portion of said cylindrical member for reversing a direction of rotation of said hub upon a reversal of said means attached to said frame assembly for driving said drive gear assembly and moving said track.   
     
     
       5. The tracked cycle as defined in claim 4, further including: a swivel guide-arm assembly interconnecting said second wheel to said frame assembly; and   at least one seat attached to said frame assembly configured to receive at least one rider thereon.   
     
     
       6. The tracked cycle as defined in claim 4, wherein said hub further includes: an axle extending through said internal cavity along an axis of said hub;   a clutch member disposed at an end of said internal cavity along said axle and opposite said ratchet assembly and having a tapered external surface at one end for engaging an inwardly tapering wall portion of said internal cavity, and a jaw portion at an opposite end;   a shaft received along said axle and concentric through said clutch member for translating said clutch member between a first and second position along said axle; and   a mating clutch member received along said axle within said internal cavity adjacent said clutch member and having one end for mating with said jaw end of the clutch member, and a second end having a tapered external surface.   
     
     
       7. A tracked cycle, comprising in combination: a frame assembly defining a front end and a rear end;   a drive assembly mounted to said frame assembly, said drive assembly including a drive gear assembly mounted to said frame assembly, a first wheel mounted to said rear end of said frame assembly distant from said drive gear assembly, and a second wheel intermediate said drive gear assembly and said first wheel, and pivotally interconnected to said frame assembly by a shock absorber assembly depending from said frame assembly, and a continuous track extending around said drive gear assembly and said first and second wheels to generally define a triangle such that one side of the triangle is defined by said continuous track extending between said first and second wheels is in contact with the ground, and another side of the triangle defined by a portion of the continuous track extending between said drive gear assembly and said second wheel is inclined toward said front end of said frame assembly;   a steering post extending through a tube attached to said front end of said frame assembly;   a handle bar assembly attached to an upper end of said steering post;   a ski assembly attached to a lower end of said steering post such that movement of the handle bar assembly moves the ski assembly about a longitudinal axis of said steering post; and   a means attached to said frame assembly for driving said drive gear assembly and moving said continuous track;   said drive assembly further including a hub having an internal cylindrical cavity, an axle extending through said internal cylindrical cavity along an axis of said hub, a clutch member disposed at one end of said internal cylindrical cavity along said axle and having a tapered external surface at one end for engaging an inwardly tapering wall portion of said internal cavity and a jaw portion at an opposite end, a shaft received along said axle and concentric through said clutch member for translating said clutch member between a first and second position along said axle, a mating clutch member received along said axle within said internal cylindrical cavity adjacent said clutch member and having one end for mating with said jaw end of the clutch member, and a second end having a tapered external surface, a plurality of arcuate brake segments disposed within said cylindrical internal cavity adjacent said mating clutch member to define a ring encircling said axle, each of said arcuate brake segments having an outer wall for engaging said internal cylindrical cavity of said hub, an inner wall interconnected to said outer wall by a pair of tapered sidewalls, a member disposed within said internal cavity along said axle adjacent said plurality of arcuate brake segments and having a frusto-conical end engaging one of said tapered sidewalls of each of said arcuate brake segments, a cylindrical member extending from an opposite end outwardly from said hub, and a ratchet assembly mounted to said cylindrical member for reversing a direction of rotation of said hub upon a reversal of said means attached to said frame assembly for driving said drive gear assembly and moving said track.